Cincy AD: CU's offer to Jones impressive

The Denver Post

Posted:
12/07/2012 10:59:37 PM MST

Updated:
12/07/2012 10:59:37 PM MST

During his news conference Friday to discuss Butch Jones' departure from the University of Cincinnati, Bearcats athletic director Whit Babcock talked about the wild week that led to Jones taking the job at Tennessee.

Babcock said he tried to talk Jones out of going to Colorado.

"It bothered me like it did many of you to see the pictures and read the reports of his interview there," he said. "When he landed back in Ohio very late (Monday) night, we talked for a long time."

Babcock said Cincinnati did not "necessarily" try to match Colorado's offer, but he did ask Jones what he needed to do to keep him at Cincinnati.

"Colorado threw a lot more than a very generous guaranteed salary at him. This room would be shocked at all the things they threw at him," he said. "It was an impressive list. Butch was impressed by it."

Jones' agent, Trace Armstrong, told The Denver Post his client would have a decision by Tuesday. When Jones still was being coy Wednesday about what he was doing, Babcock said he had "had enough" and wanted a decision by Thursday morning.

"We agreed to meet at his house at 9 a.m. ... When I walked in the door, (Jones and his wife) informed me they were declining Colorado and staying at UC."

Coincidence or not, Tennessee made formal contact with Jones' representatives minutes later. And, later Thursday, Jones accepted the job at Tennessee. He told his team Friday morning.

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"I should mention this, Dave Hart, the athletic director at Tennessee, called me in advance and was the only athletic director to do that. That is a lost courtesy and etiquette."

Babcock said before the season ended and before any of the inquiries or offers came in, Jones had received a new deal from Cincinnati.